Liquid dispensing apparatus



(36%. 1Q, 1933. J LQGAN 5 AL LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 16, 1931 m ms 44' JbSEP/I 1. 2 064 By MRRENIZFELAME My ATTORNEYS 40 resulted.

Patented a. 10,1933

PATENT orricr.

- Application December 16, 1931 Serial No. 581,413

'1 Claims. (c1. 221-95) This invention relates to improvements in liquid dispensing apparatus of the class used for dis- 11kpensing' measured quantities of gasoline and the g The invention is directed to, and has for its chief object the reduction of a certain fire hazard heretofore present in apparatus of theabove class from which inflammable liquids are dispensed and in which electric switches are used, either for the purpose of controlling the electric illumination or the electric motor which operates the dispensing means, or both. 5

It has been the practice heretofore, so far as we are aware, to place the electric switch or 15 switches within a closed box, mounted inside the pump casing to guard against ignition of inflammable vapors by arcs formed when the switches are operated. This box has a removable cover which if tight, excludes entrance of the so gasoline vapors frequently present within the interior of the casing of the apparatus. One real source of diflloulty is that this cover has to be removed, when the pump is installed, and no matter how carefully the cover is originally applied by the pump manufacturer, it may be and often. is very carelessly replaced by the local electrical contractor who wires upthe pump. An imperfect seal may result. Sometimes not all the fastening screws are replaced, leaving holes through which gasoline vapors may enter. In some cases, it has been found that the electrician failed to replace the cover. The result of such careless practice, in a pump where gasoline vapor is present, is a serious fire hazard. Gasoline vapor, if present, may find its way into the switch box and be ignited by the arc formed when the switch is operated. Many explosions have occurred from just such'causes and much property damage and occasional personal injuries have According to our invention, we mount the switch box in a recess in the casing of the pump with the cover exposed on the outside -of the pump. The body of the box then serves as a complete and permanent partitioning means between the interlor of the casing,-the region where inflammable gases may be present,- and the switch compartment. The cover is no longer a part of the partitioning means, as it was heretofore, and the presence or absence of the cover can not therefore adversely affect the eflectiveness of the partitioning means. If the cover is left of! or not properly applied, inflammable gases 5:, from the interior of the pump cannot enter the plic able switch compartment but simply air. from outside the pump casing.

In addition, the electric conduits within the casing of the pump are preferably connected without the use of junction boxes, condulet's, or like fittings, having removable covers or having openings which cannot be thoroughly and permanently sealed. The effort here is to exclude entry of gases into the conduit system and-thereby guard against the possibility of their passage through such system'into the switch box. Preferably also, the conduits at the points where they enter or leave the switch box, are plugged with sealing material, after the wires have been drawn in, to still further guard against the entry of gases into the switch compartment, even by way of the devious route of the conduits.

Other objects will appear as the detailed description proceeds and will be pointed out inthe appended claims. A

The invention will be disclosed for illustrative purposes in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a small scale sectional elevational view of a gasoline dispensing apparatus embodying the an invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view, drawn to a larger scale, of the switch box; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4-is a fragmentary elevational view showing a detail of the switch box; and

Fig. 5 is a small scale sectional plan view of the apparatus taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the liquid dispensing apparatus may be of any suitable type and form and that shown in Fig. 1 is given merely byway of illustrative example. The invention is apto any apparatus ior dispensing inflammable fluids, wherein fluid conducting elements and electrical apparatus are housed within a casing and wherein, as a result, there is a fire hazard due to the possibility of the presence of readily inflammable. vapors in the vicinity of electrical apparatus, which may cause ignition of such vapors and a consequent explosion or fire.

. In the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 1, there is a gasoline pump 6 driven by an electric motor '7. The intake of the pump is connected by piping, shown in part at 8, to an underground supply tank (not shown). The outlet of the pump is connected by a pipe 9 with a displacement meter taken on the 85 10, the stationary graduated dial of which is shown at llaudthe cooperating movable indino cator hand of which is shown at 12. From the meter, a discharge pipe 13 extends for connection to the usual flexible hose 14. These elements, with the exception of the hose, are enclosed in a housing formed by asuitable casing 15 and cooperating base and cap members 16 and 17. These members 16 and 17 are interconnected by four pipe columns 18 (indicated in Fig. 5) and from these columns, the pump, motor and meter are suitably supported, as indicated in Fig. 1. Usually, the cap 17 bears a transparent globe 19, within which is an electric lamp 20. One or more other lamps, such as 21, are also usually employed to illuminate the dial or dials 11 of the meter. The sockets 22 and 23 for these lamps 20 and 21 are connected by conduits 24 and 25 to a junction box 26, located as closely as possible to the top of the apparatus and out of the zone of any inflammable vapors. This box 26 is connected by conduit 27 to a switch box 28 to which are also connected supply conduits 29, 30, 31 and 32 as well as a conduit 33 from motor 7.

The switch box 28 has an open front face, as shown in Fig. 2, and this open face is normally closed by a removable cover 34 secured to the box by screws 35. A gasket 36 may be interposed between the cover and box, as indicated, to seal the joint. The casing 15 has an opening in one of its vertical faces to receive the front end of the box and the box has a flange 37 which rests against the inner face of the casing 15 and is fastened thereto by screws 38. A gasket 39 should be interposed between the flange 37 and casing 15 to seal the joint. The box, except for the front opening and the several openings into which the described conduits are threaded, is entirely closed. In particular, the box itself, entirely independently of the cover, partitions off the interior of the box from the interior of the pump casing. Whether or not the cover. 34 is in place, the interior of box 28, which forms the switch compartment, is sealed off from communication with the space inside the pump casing 15, in which space inflammable vapors may sometimes be present. The cover 34 is located outside the pump casing and the careless replacement of it, as by omitting the gasket 36 or some of the screws 35 or by failing to .tighten said screws, or failure to replace the cover, cannot give rise to a dangerous fire hazard because only air from the surrounding atmosphere can enter. Infiammable vapors which may accumulate within casing 15 cannot enter the switch box.

To still further reduce the fire hazard, the conduits described are devoid of junction boxes, condulets or like fittings which either have removable cover plates orrather loose connections with the conduits. The effort is to avoid all possibility of vapors entering the conduits at any point. They are permanently closed sealed ducts, proof against entrance of vapors. There are no cover plates which can be removed, leaving openings for gas to enter. It is to be notedthat the junction box 26 is the only one in the pump and wires of the lighting and power circuits, respectively. These lead from the source of supply to the box 28, without a break therein or any junction box. Then the second pump of the series isservedbywirescarriedfrombox28through conduits 30 and 31, which will extend to another box like 28. In this way, there is no likelihood of vapors entering the conduit system and findingtheir way intobox28.

Within this box are one or more switches as required. Two are shown herein, one of which, marked 40, controls the lighting circuit comprising the wires 41- which lead through conduit 27 to serve lamps 20 and 21. The other switch marked 42 controls the power circuit to motor 7, which circuit comprises the wires 43, leading through conduit 33 into the motor casing. A sealed duct from box 28 to the interior of the motor casing is aiforded by this conduit 33. Also, after the wires have been pulled in, the switch box end of conduit 33 is preferably sealed ofi with a suitable cement as indicated at 44 in Fig. 2. The conduits 27, 29, 30, 31 and .32 may be similarly sealed, as indicated at 45 in Fig. 3, in the case of conduits 27 and 29.

The switches40 and 42 are fixed to the back wall of box 28 but ,in spaced relation therewith as shown in Fig. 3. These switches 40 and 42 have upwardly projecting. operating levers 46 and 47, which are engaged in slots in the right angularly bent upper ends of arms 48 and 49 respectively. These arms 48 and 49 are fixed to the inner ends of shafts 50 and 51, respectively, mounted in openings in the back wall of box 28, in which openings they fit very closely and with such close clearances as to preclude the entrance of vapor or the passage through them of flame from box 28. On the opposite end of shaft50 is a knurled knob 52 and on the corresponding end of shaft 51 is an arm 53. The latter is connected by a link 54 to an arm 55 fixed on the inner end of a shaft 56, which on its outer end carries a lever 57, disposed outside casing 15 and adjacent the hose support 58 for convenient actuation. The knob 52, although located inside casing 15, is accessible by opening a hinged door 59 therein, as indicated in Fig. 5. Each switch operating arm may be limited in its swinging movement, as shown in Fig. 4 in the case of arm 49, by stops 60 formed on the back wall of box 28.

By preference, the switch box is partitioned by a cross member 61 into an upper compartment for the described switches and a lower compartment for a terminal board. Such board comprises a bar 62 of insulation, fixed by screws 63 to the back wall of the box and held spaced therefrom by spacers 64. The board 62'has fixed thereon in laterally spaced relation a series of vertically disposed metal plates 64', each having a pair oi screws 65 threaded therein. The supply wires 66 of the lighting circuit are fixed to two of the plates 64 by the lower screws and the circuit wires 41 are fixed to the same plates by the upper screws. The supply wires 67 of the power circuit and-the circuit wires 43 served thereby are similarly connected to another pair of plates 64. The various wires which extend from the lower to the upper compartment of the switch box, pass through a hole in partition 61 and are sealed therein as indicated at 68. This seal is applied by the pump manufacturer to guard against any possibility of failure of the installing workman to seal the conduits 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33. The one seal 68 seals off the switch compartment from all these conduits. The electrician simply has to have access to the terminal board 62. for connecting the wires 66 and 67. All other wires and their conduits are installed by the pump manufacturer.

Preferably,'the casing 15 is formed with a part 70 extending in outwardly and downwardly inclined relation and in overlying relation with the upper part of cover 34 to form a water-shed and minimize the chance of water entering into the switch box.

It will be clear that the invention aiiords substantial protection against a serious flre hazard which has been common in apparatus of this class. By the location and manner of mounting the switch box 28, the switch compartment is permanently and eflfectively closed 011 from the space within the pump casing 15, in which space inflammable vapors are liable to collect.. Entry of such vapors into the switch compartment is rendered most unlikely. Also the sealed conduit system and the sealing of each conduit at the point where it enters or leaves the switch box,

contributes materially to the object in view of preventing any possibility of the accumulation of inflammable vapors in the switch compartment,

where they would certainly become ignited by the arcs formed when the switches are operated. It

. may be said here that switches of the mercury tube type, which might be used to avoidthe trouble, have generally been found unsuitable for this class of apparatus because of their inability to stand up under the vibration to which these pumps are often subjected. Therefore, a type of switch has to be employed which creates a spark in "the switch compartment and it is accordingly essential to keep all readily ignitible vapors out of this compartment.

The location of thecover of the switch box on the outside of the pump is most important 'be-' cause this is the part which has to be removed by the electrician and no matter how carefully it may have been originallyapplied by the pump manufacturer, there is a real danger that it may not be so carefully replaced andcases have been found where it actually has not been replaced at all. With the present location, any failure to replace the cover would be noticed, whereas it might not be noticed if the switch box were concealed within the pump casing as heretofore. Furthermore, the omission of the cover, while of course undesirable, would not be so serious because the opening left in the switch compartment cannot communicate in any way with the'interior of the pump casing. Aside from these important advantages, the location of the switch box makes it conveniently accessible, not only for the purpose of original installation of the wiring but also for inspection and repair.

The invention has been disclosed in an embodiment at present preferred, for illustrative purposes, but the scope of the invention isdeflned by the appended claims, rather than by the'foregoing description.

What we claim is: I

1. In a dispensing apparatus for inflammable fluids, a casing, elements housed in said casing for conducting such fluids, said casing having an opening, a box membersecured to said casing and encompassing said opening and forming a compartment wholly and permanently closed off from the interior of said casing and accessible only through said opening, an electric switch in said compartment, and a cover outside said casing for normally closing said compartment.

2. In a dispensing apparatus for inflammable fluids, a casing, elements housed in said casing for conducting such fluids; said casing having an' opening, a box member secured to said casing and encompassing said opening and forming a compartmentwholly and permanently closed off from the interior of said casing and accessible'only through said opening, an electric switch in said compmment, a cover outside said casing for normally closing said compartment, electric apparatus in said casing, and

conduits extending from such apparatus into said bo x and afiording permanently closed ducts sealed against the entrance of any inflammable vapors which may be present in said casing.

3. In a dispensing apparatus for inflammable fluids, a casing, elements housed in said casing for conducting such fluids, said casing having an opening, a box member secured to said casing and encompassing said opening and' forming -a compartment wholly and permanently closed 011 from the interior of said casing and accessible only through said opening, an electric switch in said compartment, electric apparatus in said casing, conduits extending from such apparatus into said box and aiiording permanently closed ducts sealed against the entrance of any inflammable vapors which may be present in 'said casing, wires extending through said conduits and into said. box, and sealing means in each conduit at its point of entry into said box for encompassing said wires and forming a vapor proof closure of the conduit.

I 4. In a dispensing apparatus for inflammable fluids, a casing, elements housed in said casing for conducting such fluids, said casing having in one vertical face an opening, a box member secured to said casing and encompassing said opening and forming a compartment wholly and permanently closed oil from the interior of said casing and accessible only through said op ning, an electric switch in said compartment, a cover outside said casing for normally closing said compartment, and a water-shed on said casing in-overlying relation with the upper.

end of said cover. I I

. 5. In a dispensing apparatus for inflammable fluids, a casing, elements housed in said" casing for conducting such fluids, said casing having an opening, a box member secured to said, casing and encompassing said opening and forming a compartment wholly and permanently closed oil from the interior of said casing and accessible only through said opening, an electric switch in said compartment, a cover outsidesaid casing-for normally closing said compartment, electric apparatus in said casing, and Y conduits extending from such apparatus into said box, a supply conduit extending to said box, said conduits being devoid of openings through the walls thereof and' affording permanently closed ducts sealed against the entrance of any inflammable vapors which may be present in said casing. 1

6. In a dispensing apparatus for inflammable fluids, a casing, fluid conducting elements and electrical apparatus housed therein, switch mechanism for controlling the electrical apparatus,

and a housing for said mechanism including a.

box and aremovable cover therefor, said box secured to saidcasing and of itself and independently of the cover permanently partitioning its interior from the interior of said casing to exclude the entrance of inflammable vapors, said cover located outside said casing and constituting the only means through which access may be had to the interior of said box.

7. In a dispensing apparatus for inflammable fluids, a casing, fluid conducting elements and electrical apparatushoused therein, switch mechanism for controlling the electrical apparatus, a housing for said mechanism including a box and a removable cover therefor, said box secured to said casing and of itself and independently of the cover permanently partitioning its interior from the interior of said casing to exclude the entrance of inflammable vapors,- said cover located outside said casing and constituting the only means through which access may be had to the interior of said box, said housing 

